Mano Amiga posts-San Anto City Council Denies VisionQuest’s Zoning Request for New Child Detention Facility!
Coalition of 26 Local Advocacy Groups Stopped VisionQuest’s Detention Growth. 1/14
Coalition of 26 Local Advocacy Groups Stopped VisionQuest’s Detention Growth. 1/14
SAN ANTONIO-Members of the SA Stands coalition testified in opposition to zoning request that would allow VisionQuest, a 4-profit detention company, to open a new facility on the Eastside. Earlier this year VisionQuest signed a lease with Second Baptist Church...2/14
...in order to repurpose the church's community center into a residential space that could detain immigrant unaccompanied minors. To proceed, the company needed a zoning change to be approved by the San Antonio City Council.
3/14
3/14
SA Stands’ opposition is against callous companies that profit out of suffering & will challenge any local entity, whether governmental or not, that enters into a relationship with the detention & deportation machine. SA Stands respects the work Second Baptist Church...4/14
...has done in our community; however, their good intentions will not be able to overcome the harm caused by 4-profit detention. City Council made the right choice by rejecting this rezone request. This was the 4th time in a month that community members took a stand...5/14
...against VisionQuest, attending Zoning Commission meetings in San Antonio & Universal City & the respective City Council votes on the initial recommendations. In all 4 cases, local officials decided against 4-profit detention.6/14
SA Stands is proud of this strong mobilization of our community & looks forward to continuing the fight for immigrant rights together.
“Yesterday, we heard many testimonies from VisionQuest supporters that this facility was not a detention center but a shelter,’ said...7/14
“Yesterday, we heard many testimonies from VisionQuest supporters that this facility was not a detention center but a shelter,’ said...7/14
...Jessica Azua from TX Organizing Project & member of SA Stands. “Let me B clear immigration detention at the border, or at “shelter-like” facility is still immigration detention-it means that people are not free 2 leave. VisionQuest will never B welcomed in San Antonio.”8/14
“As an educator, I know the trauma that immigrant children & parents go through with just the threat of detention,” said Luke Amphlett, from SA Alliance of Teachers & Support Personnel & member of SA Stands.9/14
“I can only imagine14 trauma that these kids will have at this type of facility. Not only will their education be derailed, but they will live with this experience 4 the rest of their lives. Our city made the right decision by saying no to VisionQuest & no 2 child detention.”10/
“VisionQuest has a history of child abuse & neglect in other cities,” said Debra Hernandez from RAICES & member of SA Stands. “San Antonio should not allow children to be under their care, once those children are placed inside the facility, the door will be shut...11/14
... & no one will ever know the reality of the treatment they receive.” SA Stands is a strong collaborative in the city of San Antonio & Bexar County that is committed to the protection, safety, dignity, inclusion & freedom of all immigrants, regardless of race, religion...12/14
...gender identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or special ability. Through organized campaigns, advocacy efforts, community education & direct action, SA Stands will mobilize against any laws & efforts that criminalize, incarcerate, deport & divide our communities.13/14 
For more information, visit sastands.org or Facebook.com/SAStands. 14/14
